“Cold reads” may sound like a strange term, but to any reading teacher that is focused on test prep, the expression makes perfect sense. While it is important for students to read and discuss passages in a classroom setting, they must also be able to read, analyze, and comprehend text on their own. This is exactly what a cold read is.

“The Black Hills of South Dakota” is a passage that is appropriate for fifth through eighth grade students. After reading, they are presented with fifteen multiple choice questions that relate to their ability to interpret and understand the information provided in the nonfiction passage.

This test prep resource relates specifically to the ELA Common Core Standards and the ability to determine main ideas, make inferences, use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words, as well as recall supporting details that are stated directly in the passage.